In One Ear, in the Other

By Lance Morrow Monday, Jan. 07, 1991

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    A funny effect: the raunch of rock 'n' roll comes to sound like the Church Lady. The Rolling Stones' I Can't Get No Satisfaction : dum dum dum dum...dum dum dum dum . Thus does detoxified music become most toxic, a lemon-scent, pine-suffused fallout.


    In Japan, WALK signs at intersections have been programmed to tinkle Comin' Through the Rye or other tunes for pedestrians as they cross the street. The effect is charming, at least to a stranger, because it is unexpected, a silly cross-cultural grace note, a line of sunlight. But canned, environmental, globally permeating noise fills no human need. Somehow it has achieved a life of its own. The world's hotel managers should pull the plug, to universal applause. Then everyone in the lobbies of the world could appreciate the subsequent sound of one hand clapping.

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